The Sanderson sisters are back to prove that some legends never die. Disney Plus has released a trailer for the Hocus Pocus sequel that is set to release later this year. The film will feature Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy reprising their roles as the Sanderson sisters. The notorious sisters are witches with a reputation for terrorizing Salem and its residents, and 29 years after their unsuccessful resurrection, they're back to try it again.
The first Hocus Pocus film was released in 1993 and was directed by Kenny Ortega. It followed the Sanderson sisters from their initial execution on All Hallows' Eve in 1693 to their resurrection three centuries later due to a spell Winnie (Midler) cast that granted the sisters the ability to return if a virgin lit the black flame candle in their cottage. Following their resurrection Winnie, Sarah (Parker), and Mary (Najimy) scour Salem for a child they can drain the life from in order to remain above ground.
The trailer for the Anne Fletcher-directed sequel introduces Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), and Cassie (Lilia Buckingham). The three high school students will be the next generation of Salem residents hoping to put an end to the Sanderson sisters' reign of terror. Becca reveals her plan to celebrate her birthday with a scary movie marathon. Becca and Izzy are spotted in the Olde Salem Magic Shoppe where Gilbert (Sam Richardson) says that a sixteenth birthday is when witches often come into their powers. Becca and Izzy are later seen in the woods reciting a spell with a black flame candle. Various Sanderson sister objects are spotted in the trailer including the spellbook and a black cat, before the candle lights an ominous black flame, and the Sanderson sisters appear.
The trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 ends with Winnie, Sarah, and Mary being approached at a festival where a man asks them if they're looking for the stage. After delivering several memorable numbers in Hocus Pocus, there's no surprise that Winnie's answer is simply, "Always." A previous synopsis of the plot for Hocus Pocus 2 revealed that a high school trio would band together to stop the Sanderson sisters in present-day Salem. Like the original Hocus Pocus that used the 1693 setting to set up the then present-day 1993 setting, Hocus Pocus 2 will use the original film to set up the 2022 present-day setting.
Peak, Escobedo, and Buckingham, who will play the three teenagers may appear familiar to a new generation of Hocus Pocus fans. Peak has starred in Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and the HBO Max Gossip Girl reboot. Escobedo appeared in Ryan Murphy's American Horror Stories, while Buckingham has appeared in various teenage comedic dramas. These fresh faces mixed with the familiar faces of Hocus Pocus alum Midler, Parker, and Najimy have the potential to spur a new generation of Hocus Pocus enthusiasts.
The absence of Thackery Binx to assist this new group of teens to stop the Sanderson sisters leaves plenty of room for new memorable characters to be introduced. Doug Jones, Hannah Waddingham, Froy Gutierez, Ginger Minj, Kornbread Jeté, and Kahmora Hall are also slated to appear in the film. While Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Sean Murray, and Jason Marsden don't seem to be involved in Hocus Pocus 2, without them, this new Hocus Pocus film wouldn't have occurred.
Hocus Pocus 2 will begin streaming on Disney Plus on September 30, 2022.